Hello
Can anyone tell me what are the laws regarding bringing copied cds?
i have a collection of music and movies, it is for my personal use, they were bought from pirates here in my country. I would like to use them in my tv (definately not sell them!) in USA but I don't wan't to break any laws.

will i get in trouble if I bring any with me on the flight? what about sending them with my boxes and furniture? i have looked on the customs page, these items are not on the restricted items list.

i heard that you can be deported for having them, so I am nervious, and i can leave them. but then i heard that the penalty is they just get taken away....any one know what is true?

thanks in advance...

You might not get many replys to this post in this forum as I think you posted this in the wrong forum(perhaps this should have been posted in the 'General Discussion' -> 'Moving and Your new life in America' forum?)

I can't really say for certain whether you would get into trouble bringing over pirated DVD's/CD's, but I had put software that I didn't pay for onto a blank DVD so that I could take it over to the US and install it on someone else's computer and I had in my hand luggage. No-one stopped me or searched my hand luggage or asked me anything. I didn't put anything on the Customs form either. I'm not suggesting that you do this as well, but this was my personal experience.

ok, thanks, i will ask in the other forum.

No you can not bring them into the country, they ask when you pass through customs in the United States.


http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation...rightedArticles

Trademarked and Copyrighted Articles
CBP enforces laws relating to the protection of trademarks and copyrights. Articles that infringe a federally registered trademark or copyright or copyright protected by the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works are subject to detention and/or seizure. Infringing articles may consist of articles that use a protected right without the authorization of the trademark or copyright owner or articles that copy or simulate a protected right.

Articles bearing marks that are counterfeit or inappropriately using a federally registered trademark are subject to seizure and forfeiture.The importation of articles intended for sale or public distribution bearing counterfeit marks may subject an individual to a civil fine if the registered trademark has also been recorded with CBP. Articles bearing marks that are confusingly similar to a CBP recorded registered trademark , and restricted gray market articles (goods bearing genuine marks not intended for U.S. importation for which CBP granted gray market protection) are subject to detention and seizure.

However, travelers arriving in the United States may be permitted an exemption and allowed to import one article of each type, which must accompany the person, bearing a counterfeit, confusingly similar or restricted gray market trademark, provided that the article is for personal use and is not for sale.

This exemption may be granted not more than once every 30 days. The arriving passenger may retain one article of each type accompanying the person. For example, an arriving person who has three purses, whether each bears a different infringing trademark, or whether all three bear the same infringing trademark, is permitted only one purse. If the article imported under the personal exemption provision is sold within one year after the date of importation, the article or its value is subject to forfeiture.

In regard to copyright infringement, articles that are determined by CBP to be clearly piratical of a protected copyright, i.e., unauthorized articles that are substantially similar to a material protected by a copyright, are subject to seizure. A personal use exemption for articles, similar to that described above also applies to copyrighted articles for the personal, non-commercial use of the importer and are not for sale or distribution.

You may bring back genuine trademarked and copyrighted articles (subject to duties). Products subject to copyright protection most commonly imported include software on CD-ROMs, sound recordings, toys, stuffed animals, clothing with cartoon characters, videotapes, DVDs, music CDs, and books. Products subject to trademark protection most commonly imported include handbags and accessories, and clothing.

Gift them to your friends now!

I've NEVER been stopped, I've NEVER heard of anyone being stopped and it's highly unlikely the orginal poster would be stopped.

OK, they stop the poster.

They're looking for drugs, large amounts of currency and counterfeit commercial sales.

A few personal CDs purchased from their home country, no problem. (They'll probably take them away from you and give you verbal warning......Being arrested, I don't think so!



Bring the Cds, you'll happy you did 12 months down the road when you're homesick.

Mark-Ira is referring to the laws strictly enforced in the case of professional smugglers

Yeah right... nothing happens. My uncle brought me 12 DVD's, which were obviously bootleg since it only cost $1, from Pakistan. All in one bag, no questions asked.